Main Dish Recipes

Sandwiches, burgers, meatballs, and more hearty main dishes for hungry crowds.

Recipes

Homemade Roman-Style Pizza Pockets (Trapizzini)

Win the crowd at your next game-day party by combining the awesome powers of pizza and sandwiches.
Other Vegetables

Tri-Tip Beef Roast With Shallot Jus

Because we can't always afford prime rib.
Korean

Korean-Inspired Crispy Tofu Tacos With Cabbage-Lime Slaw

Perfect for Taco Night or Meatless Monday. (Or both.)
Fried Chicken

Extra-Crispy Fried Chicken With Caramelized Honey and Spice

Super-crunchy, craggy fried chicken coated in toasted honey and spice.

Stovetop

Vietnamese-Style Chicken Meatballs With Ginger and Mint

Funky, spicy, and perfect in lettuce wraps.
Nuts

Vegan Cheesesteak With Yuba (Tofu Skin) and Mushrooms

You won't miss this meat in this vegan take on the classic gut-busting sandwich.

Mains

Vegan Italian-American Lasagna With "Ricotta"

Layers upon layers of not-what-it-seems.
Braising and Stewing

Braised Lamb Shoulder With Dried Chilies and Dates

The oven shoulders most of the heavy lifting in this easy lamb shoulder braise.
Mains

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole With Cheddar and Gruyère

Cheesy, gooey, crisp-crusted, and satisfying.
Mains

Oven Barbecue Pork Ribs

No smoker? No worries.
Pork

Easy Oven-Cooked Pulled Pork

Oven-cooked pulled pork that will please even the purists.
The Food Lab

Quick and Easy Vegetarian Tamale Pie With Brown Butter Cornbread Crust

A 100% vegetarian version of the all-in-one comfort classic that never fails to bring big smiles and leave full bellies in its wake.
Corn

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread

This cornbread has a moist, tender crumb and intense corn flavor.
Sandwiches

Party-Sized Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches

Buttermilk brined chicken parm, packed into a full-size loaf of toasted ciabatta.
Beef

American Chop Suey (Macaroni, Beef, and Cheese Skillet Casserole)

A New England classic that ought to be eaten everywhere.
American

Ultra-Smashed Cheeseburgers

Maximum crust and maximum flavor.
Tex-Mex

Grilled Skirt Steak Fajitas

Flavorful grilled steak fajitas served with sizzled peppers and onions.
Bread

Homemade Roman-Style Pizza Pockets (Trapizzini)

Win the crowd at your next game-day party by combining the awesome powers of pizza and sandwiches.
American

Tri-Tip Beef Roast With Shallot Jus

Because we can't always afford prime rib.
Mexican

Korean-Inspired Crispy Tofu Tacos With Cabbage-Lime Slaw

Perfect for Taco Night or Meatless Monday. (Or both.)
Mains

Extra-Crispy Fried Chicken With Caramelized Honey and Spice

Super-crunchy, craggy fried chicken coated in toasted honey and spice.

Thai

Vietnamese-Style Chicken Meatballs With Ginger and Mint

Funky, spicy, and perfect in lettuce wraps.
Sandwiches

Vegan Cheesesteak With Yuba (Tofu Skin) and Mushrooms

You won't miss this meat in this vegan take on the classic gut-busting sandwich.

Italian

Vegan Italian-American Lasagna With "Ricotta"

Layers upon layers of not-what-it-seems.
Lamb

Braised Lamb Shoulder With Dried Chilies and Dates

The oven shoulders most of the heavy lifting in this easy lamb shoulder braise.
Caribbean

Ropa Vieja

Shredded and juicy meat bathed in a flavorful sauce.
Baking

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Baked Potatoes

A party dip puts on a dinner jacket.
Sides

Nacho-Style Baked Potatoes

Skip the tortilla chips for once and go fully loaded baked potato instead.
Pork

New Orleans–Style Red Beans and Rice

Red beans and rice are good right away, but they're even better the next day.
Cabbage

Indian-Spiced Oven-Cooked Pulled Lamb Sandwiches

All the best qualities of pulled pork, but funkier.
Tomato

Creole-Style Red Jambalaya With Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp

A descendant of paella, with all the global flair of New Orleans mixed in.
Chili

Easy Pressure Cooker Pork Chile Verde

Great chile verde flavor in the pressure cooker, with just 15 minutes of hands-on work.
Baking

Classic Italian-American Stuffed Shells With Ricotta and Spinach

Comfort food at its best.
Pork

Sous Vide Carnitas for Tacos (Crispy Mexican-Style Pulled Pork)

Use your sous vide cooker for extra-juicy, crispy, and foolproof carnitas.
Quick and Easy

3-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

So easy, it's practically done before you start.
Beef

Classic Baked Lasagna Bolognese (Lasagne alla Bolognese)

Baked to hearty-yet-refined perfection.
American

Modern Baked Mac and Cheese With Cheddar and Gruyère

A special salt is the key to this amazingly easy mac and cheese.
Pressure Cooker

Pressure Cooker American Beef Stew

The pressure cooker makes beef stew that's short on time, but long on flavor.
Mains

Ultimate Baked Potato

Fully loaded, flavored fully.
Cheese

Spinach and Ricotta Manicotti

Classic Italian-American ricotta and spinach manicotti, made with fresh pasta and a few little tricks.
Italian

Crepe Manicotti With Veal Ragù

An Italian-American classic.
Sides

Pure and Simple Slow-Cooked Boston Baked Beans

Take a trip to Beantown's greatest bean dish.
Beef

Barbecue Smoked Beef Chuck

Brisket ain't got nothing on this, baby.
Gluten-Free

Sous Vide Smoked Brisket

Sous vide is the key to consistently moist brisket with a smoky bark.
Caribbean

Cuban-Style Roast Pork Shoulder With Mojo

An easy, pull-apart-tender, extra-porky roast.
Pork

Cochinita Pibil (Yucatán-Style Barbecued Pork)

You don't need an earthen pit to make this.
Appetizers and Hors d'Oeuvres

Yucatecan Pork Belly and Cheese Tacos (Tacos de Castacán Con Queso)

Extra-crispy, extra-browned, extra-cheesy, and delicious.
Mains

Chiles Rellenos (Mexican-Style Cheese-Stuffed Chilies)

Whether traditional or smothered, chiles rellenos are a crowd-pleaser.
The Food Lab

Sous Vide Sausages

Extra-plump and juicy sausages from the sous vide cooker.
The Food Lab

Hungarian Goulash (Beef Stew With Paprika)

Rich, hearty, and rib-sticking, this is the Hungarian-American goulash of our winter dreams.
Mexican

Slow-Roasted Bacon-Wrapped-Pineapple Tacos

Sweet caramelized pineapple wrapped in smoky bacon makes for a great reverse al pastor taco.
Soups and Stews

Easy One-Pot Chicken Tinga (Spicy Mexican Shredded Chicken)

Our smoky and spicy chicken tinga is so flavorful, you don't even need the traditional chorizo.
The Food Lab

All-American Beef Stew

After dozens of pounds of stewed beef and scores of experiments, we've got the recipe for the ultimate beef stew.
Mains

Slow-Cooker Sticky Thai Meatballs

These slow-cooker meatballs in a sticky Thai sauce are guaranteed to be tender and juicy.
Braising and Stewing

Rich and Flavorful Guinness Beef Stew With Potatoes

An Irish classic with even more flavor.
Chicken

Easy Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup

Comfort in a bowl, thanks to a rich and spicy broth, melted cheese, and the toasty flavor of chilies.
Mains

Creamy Garlic Chicken Spanakopita Skillet

This filling Greek-inspired dish turns traditional spanakopita into a one-skillet meal.
Mains

Easy Skillet Baked Ziti With Sausage and Ricotta

A hearty pasta, sausage, and cheese casserole, no oven required.
The Food Lab

Bacon-Jalapeño Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Bacon-jalapeño mac and cheese so easy, you can make it drunk.
Shrimp

Shrimp and Gruyère Cheese Grits With Bacon and Mushrooms

Tender, plump shrimp with mushrooms, bacon, and herbs, all atop creamy cheese grits.
Beans and Pulses

Quick and Easy Pressure Cooker Black Beans With Chorizo

Tender, creamy black beans from scratch in under an hour.
Cheese

The Food Lab's Ultra-Gooey Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Just as fast as the blue box, but way, way better.
Mains

The Best Carne Asada

Buttery, tender, and juicy beef with a nice charred, smoky flavor.
Grilling

Sous Vide Barbecue Pork Ribs

When done properly, ribs cooked sous vide are every bit as good as traditional barbecue, if not better.
Mushrooms

Fried Shiitake Po' Boys With New Orleans-Style Remoulade

A vegetarian po' boy so delicious, it should be an instant classic.
Fried Chicken

5-Ingredient Fried Chicken Sandwiches

The easiest fried chicken recipe you'll ever see.
Burger

Mini Pineapple-Teriyaki-Glazed Salmon Burgers With Avocado

Chubby sandwiches stuffed with salmon, pineapple, peppery watercress, and avocado.
Mains

Jamaican Beef Tacos With Tropical Slaw

A Caribbean classic in taco form.
Chicken

Southern Fried Chicken

The crispiest, crunchiest, juiciest fried chicken around.
Fried Chicken

Fully Loaded Mexican Fried Chicken With Green Chili–Corn Waffles

A Mexican-Southern mashup for the ages.
Sandwiches

Chorizo-Spiced Pulled Pork With Mexican Street Corn Slaw

Pulled pork with chorizo spices topped with an elote-inspired creamy corn slaw.
Mains

Easy Pressure Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

Tender and flavorful red chile chicken enchiladas in an hour or less.
Beef

The Best Tamale Pie With Braised Skirt Steak, Charred Corn, and Brown Bu...

Slow-cooked shredded skirt steak topped with corn bread flavored with browned butter.
Soups and Stews

Quick and Easy Skillet Tamale Pie With Brown Butter Cornbread Crust

Deeply flavored, meaty chili and cornbread all rolled into one.
Mains

Italian-American Meatball Subs

Juicy meatballs, creamy mozzarella, and the ideal sub construction.
The Food Lab

The Best Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Tender chicken in a spicy, smoky salsa verde stuffed into soft corn tortillas and baked with cheese.
Roasting

Roasted Spiced Lamb Ribs With Whole Grain Mustard Sauce

Luscious roasted lamb ribs with a robust whole grain mustard sauce.
Mains

The Best Moules Marinières (Sailor-Style Mussels)

A 15-minute French classic made with fresh, inexpensive ingredients.
Mains

Tacos de Canasta (Basket Tacos for a Party or Potluck)

These special tacos are sold by bicycle vendors in Mexico, and they get better as they sit.
Pickling

Beer-Basted German Sausages With Quick-Pickled Peppers and Onions

Roasted in the oven and basted with beer, these German-style pork sausages turn out juicy, tender, and lightly browned all over.
Mains

Baked Ziti With Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce

Instead of grainy ricotta cheese, this ziti gets a drizzle of Parmesan cream.
Grilling

Smoky and Spicy Apricot-Glazed Barbecue Ribs

Simple, bold ribs with a spicy rub and a fruity, smoky apricot sauce.
Sandwiches

Smashed Reuben Burgers

A gooey, crusty, amazing mashup of a burger.
Mains

Tex-Mex Cheese Enchiladas With Red Chili Gravy

Tortillas rolled up around a cheddar-based filling and completely enveloped by a rich red chili sauce, then topped with even more melted cheese.
Sandwiches

Sloppy Chori-Joes (Chorizo Sloppy Joes)

Stuff your sandwiches with creamy avocado and spicy chorizo sautéed with poblano peppers.
Sandwiches

Homemade Italian Beef

The classic Chicago roast beef sandwich, whenever you want it.
Beans and Pulses

Slow-Cooker Ropa Vieja With Black Beans and Rice

This Cuban dish of shredded stewed beef flavored with a vinegary tomato and pepper sauce is a natural choice for the slow cooker.
Mains

Italian Sausage and Fontina Shooter's-Style Sandwich

Topped with a tangy, rich sun-dried tomato and caper relish.
Chicken

Roast Duck Shooter's-Style Sandwich With Pickled Carrots and Hoisin

A sandwich inspired by Chinese sesame pancakes, packed with Peking-style roast duck.
Zucchini

Roasted Vegetable and Goat Cheese Shooter's-Style Sandwich

The best roasted vegetable sandwich you can construct for a crowd.
Mexican

Carnitas and Oaxaca Cheese Shooter's-Style Sandwich With Spicy Refried Beans

Juicy pork, pickled onions, jalapeños, beans, and gooey melted Oaxaca cheese all packed into one giant sandwich.
Olives

Muffuletta Shooter's-Style Sandwiches

The classic New Orleans cold cut and olive salad sandwich gets pressed.
Turkey

Turkey, Bacon, and Broccoli Rabe Shooter's-Style Sandwich

A large format pressed sandwich filled with turkey, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, and sautéed broccoli rabe.
Legumes

Crispy Fried Chickpea Cake and Slaw Sandwiches

Hearty and crispy vegan chickpea patties flavored with cumin and coriander, topped with a bright tahini-based slaw.
Pork

Roast Pork and Broccoli Rabe Sandwiches

Rich slow-cooked pork and melty Provolone, balanced with bold broccoli rabe.
Mains

Easy Oven-Baked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This pulled pork is vinegary and mildly sweet.
Deep Frying

Crunchy Fried Fish Tacos

Crispy fish tacos served with spicy mayo, cabbage, and pickled red onions.
Beef

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs With Avocado, Tomato, Onion, and Potato Chips

Deep fried bacon-wrapped hot dogs topped with a quick salsa.
Pineapple

Real Tacos Al Pastor

The slow-cooked, crisply charred effect, no rotisserie required.
Ham

Faux Cubano Grilled Cheese

An easier spin on the Cubano.
Sandwiches

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Get your grilled cheese party poppin'.
Sandwiches

Mexican Fried Eggplant Sandwich (Vegan Tortas and Pambazos)

Hearty sandwiches stuffed with fried eggplant, refried beans, roasted chilies, and pickled red onions, served in a toasted roll doused in enchilada sauce.
Mains

Classic New Orleans Muffuletta Sandwich

The secret is to let it rest before eating so the olive juices get absorbed into the bread.
Snacks

Kimchi Frito Pie

Spicy, savory, and crunchy all at once: the best kind of sacrilege.
Sandwiched

Crispy, Cheesy Party Sandwiches

These tiny triple-decker sandwiches are buttery, toasty, and oozing with cheese.
Sandwiched

Classic Club Sandwich

As classic as it gets, no changes or additions necessary.
Mains

Real-Deal Tortilla Soup

Sweet corn and black beans balance the heat in this hearty soup.
Mexican

Better Than Chipotle's Beef Barbacoa

Crazy-tender barbacoa made with oxtails and a blend of fruity chilies.
Sides

Vegan Frito Pie

Pickled onions and jalapeños brighten this junk food classic.
Pork

Barbecue Meatballs

Meatballs, browned and smoky.
Grilling

Planked Meatloaf

Grilling on a wood plank imparts a nice smokiness here.
Mains

Ultra-Crispy Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder

Pull-apart tender meat and ultra-crisp skin: It's not the most gorgeous roast in the world, but you'd be hard pressed to find one more flavorful.
The Burger Lab

The In-N-Out/Telway/White Manna Ultimate Animal-Style Slider Mashup

The best elements from three of our favorite burgers in the world, combined into one glorious sandwich.
Chicken

Charred Corn and Zucchini Tacos

Sweet and smoky charred corn gets zesty with a sprinkle of Cotija cheese.
Mexican

Sopes de Pollo con Frijoles (Chicken Sopes With Beans)

Masa magic.
Pork

No-Waste Tacos de Carnitas With Salsa Verde

The undisputed king of the taco cart.
Lobster and Crab

Crabby Falafel 'Sliders'

Crab meat and chickpeas join forces in these harissa mayo-doused sliders.